Pope Leo XIV begins Africa tour

The tour will take the Pope to nations central to the future of the Church, where he is expected to address issues of global conflict, immigration, and poverty.

Leo XIV has been an outspoken critic of his home country's 'warlike turn' and has called for an immediate ceasefire in the U.S.-Iran conflict.

His visit is seen as a strategic effort to prioritize a region vital to the Vatican's long-term vision.

The pontiff's statements on U.S. politics have reportedly inspired several influential American cardinals to speak out against current immigration policies.